Heathrow for JetBlue

JetBlue Airways appears to have secured 270 slots at London’s Heathrow airport for the summer travel season, as it launches low-cost transatlantic narrow-body services from the US East Coast.

UK slot coordinator Airport Coordination Ltd (ACL) released information on 26 March showing the slots were allocated to JetBlue, which looks to begin service to the UK during the week of 2 August.

JetBlue has been allocated an initial 14 slots weekly, according to ACL. That increases to 22 slots weekly on 13 September and 28 weekly from 20 September through to the end of the summer season on 30 October.

The airline had announced in early 2019 that it was looking to launch a transatlantic service with its new fleet of Airbus A321LRs and, later, A321XLRs. In February, it revealed details about its premium Mint business class cabin, including 24 lie-flat seats, that would be used for the route.

The airline delayed its ambitious London plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.  It has also secured slots at both Gatwick and Stansted and made noises regarding Boston as a US gateway.  It has been coy over its actual definitive plans and not issued a firm statement on routes and frequencies.

www.jetblue.com

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David Savile, United Kingdom

Took at JetBlue flight from West Palm Beach to JFK. After pushback off stand and a 90 degree turn, I looked out of the window back onto stand, where 10 members of the JetBlue ground crew were standing in a line facing us. I asked a cabin crew member who was the VIP on board? She said "You! The WPB crew do it to all departures." Then as we taxied forward, they all wave to us in sync! Was a really nice touch, even though my description might make it sound lame.

John Davidson, France

JetBlue has long been my favorite airline in the US. Their customer service on the ground is excellent and above what anyone would expect. As I told them on a flight a while ago, I wished they were flying transatlantic. Now that they're planning to serve London, why not Orly, as the all-business-class airline, a BA subsidiary, once did. (Apologies, name forgotten.) It was fantastic out of Orly, with check-in near the escalator to the floor above, very near the lounge, and then very near the gate. Cabin crew very friendly. For some reason, BA must have shut it down. It was Orly-Newark. OpenSkies. Info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSkies